Sorry, folks. Admittedly, after going on a short sabbatical traveling around South America, I thought I’d have plenty of time to write about the places I’ve visited and share the many pleasant experiences and surprises I’ve encountered along the way.

A serendipitous thing happened while I was on the road. I got in contact with a food company that was looking for someone to help build and improve a business unit in their organization which led to virtual interviews and an offer before I even got back home. So…four months later, here I am with a blog post like no other.

Flashback 31 December 2019, we heard in the news that a small village in Wuhan is having a significant number of its population becoming sick of pneumonia. The information probably didn’t register much in our consciousness because of the holidays. The news became a big deal when China declared a lockdown on movement of its citizens around the country and abroad during the annual Chinese New Year migration in mid-February. Personally, I felt sorry for the Chinese people but I’m sure like most everyone, didn’t think that it would spread as quickly both geographically and exponentially.

Almost 3 months since the first case, I find myself ‘sheltered-in-place,’ http://www.tinyurl.com/waddyqv, working remotely from home like the majority of my fellow residents in the SFO Bay Area and across the United States. Three months later, this CoVid19 is bringing the most powerful country in the world in deeper state of disruption and paralysis, sickening more than 21,365 of us and to-date 266 deaths (Source: New York Times, March 20, 2020). The socio economic impact of a single virus is yet to be estimated but already we are facing a recession none of us ever imagined can be caused by a viral strain. Hard to believe but it’s here and we’re all living it. 187 countries out 195 are affected.

I sincerely believe that what we are experiencing today is a direct result of what we, humans, have been doing to our environment. In our desire for more of whatever it is, we have failed to consider what the impact of those desires have in the natural world.

Because these are extraordinary times, I thought I’d start a daily blog to document a new but hopefully temporary way of life and also record my daily observations and thoughts.

16 March 2020:

My day started ordinarily since I’ve stopped traveling for work after our CEO discouraged non-essential business travel due to CoVid19. Meetings and conference calls as usual. At around 1:00 pm my phone buzzed with a newsflash: Six Bay Area counties announced ‘shelter-in-place’ orders for all residents starting midnight, Tuesday, 17 March. Then my phone successively buzzed from alerts from my own county announcing the same. Called my loved ones to check-in and make sure they got the news, too. Fortunately, I have been communicating with some colleagues and friends overseas where lockdowns are ready taking place so I wasn’t surprised. Plus a week before, while people were in the news hoarding toilet paper and water (I still don’t get the logic of this behavior), I checked my pantry to make sure I have enough supply to last 2 weeks. I was surprised at the swiftness of the events, though. Still I decided to buy some perishable produce since I don’t have enough.

Observations:

I had to think where I should go. To the established supermarkets, big box retailers (Costco, Walmart) or to my local produce and butcher shop? I figured, I should go to the local produce and butcher shop to avoid crowds. I was right! The atmosphere in the produce market was calm except for an Oriental middle-aged guy packing as much as he can of tomatoes, beans and all sorts of produce, his cart filled almost to the brim. Bubble thought: how many people are you going to feed and wouldn’t those rot in no time at all? I wanted to tell him off but I held my tongue. Another couple were hoarding boxes of eggs. This time, I asked them to leave something for others and they placed some boxes back.

In times of uncertainty, let’s not forget about others, too.

Went to get gas and decided to order food to go from my neighborhood Korean shop. There was no one around except the owner. He told me he just asked his two helpers to go home after 1 pm. He said he felt sorry for them since business has been slow and he had to let them go temporarily. He will only do delivery starting the next day.

The swiftness of events – shelter-in-place, small business owners letting go of their people, stock market going south, streets suddenly quiet – made me suddenly think about the stories I’ve read of the bubonic plague. While sorting my groceries, a strange thought crossed my mind, what if suddenly, we also have a blackout?

An hour later while having dinner, flash, bang, blackout! Seriously?!? This is surreal. A movie. A dream. Wake me up.

Now, not only have I to worry about the stuff that I bought, but also, about work and the calls I need to be in early the next day…no WiFi…how can I function?!?

Tired. But I have to do something. Water is available. Gas is available. Decided to cook the stuff I bought lest they get spoiled. I remembered I also had some gel ice packs in the freezer. Took all those inside the fridge to preserve the items I had there.

Cooked until midnight. Time for bed. Tomorrow is another day.